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Help keep Acadia National Park healthy for the animals that call it home and the millions of people who come to visit it each year.

The granite mountains and craggy coasts of the islands that make up Acadia are famous for their beauty and their wildlife. This is classic, unspoiled New England. Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, our partner, is based near the tip of Schoodic Point, feet away from the crashing surf.

Acadia is on a bird “superhighway,” a route heavily traveled by birds that migrate between Canada and South America. Researchers have recorded 23 species of warblers alone here. The park’s lakes and coastal waters provide a home for 30 species of fish and a wide array of invertebrates, such as sea stars and urchins. Acadia deserves our protection.

And it needs it. Things are changing in Acadia. How do we know? For one thing, Acadia’s scientists have over 120 years of detailed natural history observations to compare current patterns to. And that’s where Earthwatch volunteers come in- to help collect similar data that can be compared to this extended time-series data-set. Few places in the country have such a rich pool of observations to draw from and make comparisons to.

Help scientists tell the story of how humans are reshaping Acadia, which they hope will inspire policies that will help safeguard this iconic American habitat.

Activity Level

Lead scientists

Accommodation and food

Why the research is important

Why the research is important

Help researchers add to over 120 years of data, revealing how our reliance on fossils fuels is affecting one of America’s most beautiful places.

Increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is contributing to warming temperatures and ocean acidification. It is also beginning to change the timing of when various species depend on each other’s resources or services.

Get a detailed look at environmental change in Acadia National Park. You’ll examine the impacts of global change phenomena—including warming temperatures and ocean acidification—on plants and wildlife, on land and within the intertidal zone.

A team member collects a soil sample.

Changes in temperature and precipitation are now known to cause shifts in when flowers bloom, and subsequent changes in when those flowers become fruit. Those shifts, in turn, may lead to a flower blooming before its main pollinator arrives on the scene, or make it harder for birds to find the fruits when they need them. These are called “ecological mismatches”, and scientists are just now trying to decipher what this means for natural communities.

The forests of Acadia are dynamic systems and we have many questions about how they are responding to a changing climate - which species will stay, which will move out, and which will move in? Computer models predict the answers to these questions, but only the forests themselves will reveal the true answer. Team 1 will focus their time assisting scientists in returning to establishing long-term forest monitoring plots surveyed by Earthwatchers in the 1990s to survey the plants, soil, and human use of the plot to pursue answers to these questions.

Lastly, as carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, the ocean does what it has always done and absorbs much of that gas. Without this service, CO2 levels would be much higher, and temperatures would be much hotter. However, CO2 in the water leads to higher levels of acidity. For many shell-bearing creatures in the intertidal zone (and beyond), this means shell structure may be compromised, leading to lower survival rates for these organisms. The increased acidification can also cause changes in important behaviors, such as an organism’s ability to detect predators. All of this combined is likely to lead to changes in the structure of marine communities.

These changes are important both ecologically and economically, as the Acadia region relies on natural resources and tourism for much of its economy. Help scientists and Schoodic Institute reveal how all these connections are being influenced by a changing climate.

About the research area

Acadia National Park, Maine, United States, North America & Arctic

You'll stay at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, within the Schoodic District of the Park, located near Winter Harbor, Maine, a charming fishing village just across Frenchman Bay from Mount Desert Island, the biggest section of the park. Depending on when you’re in town, you may get to take in the annual lobster festival, lobster boat races, or birding festival. You can always explore the town’s working waterfront and eat fresh seafood.

Acadia National Park covers the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula, most of Mount Desert Island, and parts of other islands that sit in the Gulf of Maine, just off the coast. The striking rocky coastline and lush spruce forests make the area a popular hiking and camping destination. Visitors can explore it by foot, bike, or car along more than 200 miles of trails, paved roads, and gravel carriage roads. The beautiful setting has lured artists, travelers, and naturalists for hundreds of years

Hike to observe birds, plants, and insects. While covering about two miles a day, you’ll identify insects, and birds, deploy cameras, and record when plants are flowering and bearing fruit.

Collect samples in the intertidal. You will deploy and collect settlement plates to determine mussels, periwinkles, barnacles, and seaweed species that are present.

Experiment in the aquarium lab. Perform a variety of experiments to test how acidic seawater impacts how hard-shelled organisms, like crabs, form their shells and interact with each other.

Transcribe historical accounts. Dig into the accounts of naturalists that visited Acadia as far back as 200 years ago as you add them to digital databases and preserve them for historical records.

When you’re not contributing to this vital research, you will learn about the area from scientists, local fisherman, historians, artists, and others. You’ll also have some free time to hike, stargaze and get to know the other researchers and volunteers while taking in the beauty of this wild place.

The Scientists

MEET THE LEAD SCIENTIST

Abraham

Miller-Rushing

Science Coordinator, National Park Service, Acadia National Park

ABOUT Abraham Miller-Rushing

Dr. Miller-Rushing is a phenologist—a scientist who studies seasonal changes over time. He feels the biggest management action needed for Acadia National Park is to tell the story of what’s happening there to agencies and the public.

MEET THE OTHER SCIENTISTS

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations and Food

Home-cooked meals

Charming coastal village

Oceanside vistas

Bald granite peaks

Spectacular wildlife

Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park will be your home during this expedition. These comfortable accommodations have a strong community atmosphere. You’ll stay in the recently renovated bunkhouse, equipped with air conditioning and a spacious common area. Amenities include a full gym, wifi, and shared computers.

The center’s accomplished food service staff will prepare your meals, which will include full breakfasts and lunch and dinner options such as tacos, sandwiches, pot roast, lasagna, a salad bar, and dessert. Snacks and a variety of beverages are also available.

“Acadia: Then, Now, and in the Future”

Acadia National Park is remarkable for it's beauty, with an almost magical blend of Northern Forest with rugged Maine coastline. I was overdue in revisiting Acadia, and delighted to have the opportunity to experience it while contributing to important scientific research

Our team of volunteers participated in vegetation surveys that will help in understanding how shifts in climate are changing the fruiting of the plants, and that data is being shared as part of a larger study, tracking the movement and habits of birds along the Atlantic Flyway. We also surveyed sections of the rocky and muddy intertidal zones, and spent a smaller amount of time in the lab, identifying invertebrates collected from the vegetation plots.

We were led by a team of dedicated and dynamic researchers who were always available to not only assist us with identifying the target species, such as huckleberry and common seaweeds, but also to share their widespread knowledge and love of this inspiring ecosystem. They patiently and appreciatively answered our work-specific as well as far-reaching questions, whether in the lab, the field, or the cafeteria.

Accommodations were comfortable, meals were plentiful and customizable, and the campus paths were easy and enjoyable to wander on and off duty. We also enjoyed getting to know this quieter section of the heavily visited park.

A National Park Ranger joined us one of the evenings and we learned about the history of scientific observation at Acadia. Knowing we were participating in these continuing studies added meaning to our daily tasks. And lessons in using various natural history phone apps gave us easy tools to continue with citizen science observations at home, in anticipation of our next expeditions in the future!

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Jan Kleinman|Monday, July 02, 2018

“Why not Acadia and why not trees?”

If you like cool trips rather than hot ones, and if you like hiking in uninhabited, quiet, revealing places, and if you have any interest in trees and how they help us understand our changing planet, this is your trip. You will wear long sleeves most days without any regret. You will visit islands not visited often in recent generations. You will bushwhack- so bring your walking stick! You will learn how to identify trees, what trees and their habitat can show us about our planet, and how you can continue being a citizen scientist back at home using your new skills. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

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Helen Hanselmann|Monday, October2, 2017

“Fabulous hands & knees & brain experience!”

From Day 1 scrambling through brush in the field to count berries & subsequent days slopping in tidally exposed seaweed looking for green crabs to the last afternoon in the lab identifying and counting collected insects it was fabulous "hands-&-knees-&-brains-on science!" Friendly & knowledgeable staff, good company & great grub, too!! Plush accommodations at recycled Navy observation facility.

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Jared Biunno|Friday, September29, 2017

“An educational and thrilling adventure”

Climate Change: Sea to Trees at Acadia is, in the best of ways, a down-and-dirty expedition. You work out in the field as if you were an actual researcher collecting data, studying samples and truly contributing to the program. This is not a beach vacation by any means, and that's my favorite part about it. You're learning with your team members, discovering new things all the while enjoying the breathtaking natural beauty of Acadia National Park. The accommodations were very pleasant, both the lodging and meals were great and the campus is beautiful, and for someone like me who lives in a big city it was so easy to get lost and completely detach from my busy life. There was lobster dinners, s'mores at a campfire, meeting new people and hearing stories and building a sense of camaraderie amongst your fellow team members. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone looking to learn more about climate change, the natural world and to take a vacation that is truly meaningful and impactful.

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Ilene Guralnick|Monday, September11, 2017

“Not your average vacation by any means”

Imagine going completely out of your wheel house and doing something totally new. Imagine feeling that what you are doing is important. And of course completely enjoyable. Get down into that muck and mire and feel excited

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Zhen Huang|Thursday, September7, 2017

“Climate Change: Sea to Trees at Acadia National Park (Teen Team)”

It is a very exciting week! All the scientists and staffs are really nice and it is a great way to make close friends and socialize. Our objectives are to set up plots in the field for study and count the number of berries as well as identifying the berries' species. One day we also go onto the intertidal zone to photograph species and upload them online to help the community. In addition, the food is magnificent and stargazing at night is highly highly recommended. Overall this is a great opportunity to experience fieldwork, expand our knowledge, widen our view of the world, and socialize. This experience can be life changing.

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Mark Carthy|Monday, July31, 2017

“"I can now claim to be a tree-hugger"”

The less trampeled woods on Acadia/Schoodic Point are a great laboratory for climate change. We took a kayak out to a forested island to search in the woods for 25 year old plot markers. The forests were pristine and we could have been pilgrims landing on a foreign shore. We surveyed the plant growth on 11 plots over two days and learned that its plot plant identity even if side by side relates to difference in shade, wind, sea and other micro-factors. After a week in the woods measuring tree diameter - I can now claim to be a tree-hugger.

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Leslie Bakker|Thursday, October20, 2016

“Climate Change: Sea to Trees at Acadia National Park”

My husband and I had a delightful time. In our 70's, we were a little concerned about physical ability, but we learned the expedition description of required physical demands was accurate. We met some wonderful volunteers and expedition staff and came away with a broader understanding of the reach of environmental change. The s'mores around the campfire that last night weren't bad, either! Friends have asked us if we'd do it again, and "yes!" is our answer! Thanks to the Schoodic Institute and it's staff.

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Anthony Diviesti|Thursday, October20, 2016

“Wonderful Acadia Experience!”

Research was was very interesting and NOT very physically strenuous if that is a concern. The researchers and staff were very helpful and thankful for our participation in their project. Accommodations and food was better than expected. If you want the opportunity to study the effects of climate, this is a great expedition. Make sure to take a few days prior to or after the expedition to explore and hike Acadia on the MDI (Mt. Desert Island) side of it. Unbelievably beautiful.

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Genevieve Steffen|Friday, September30, 2016

“First Earthwatch Expedition”

Sea to Trees in Acadia was my very first Earthwatch expedition. I was more than excited to try out this new adventure in a state I had never been to.

My expectations were to see new area of country, learn more about climate change and meet scientists and staff of this area and try to understand their need for this program.

WOW! It was awesome from the start to the end. Great staff, housing, food and most of all meeting so many participants from many countries and backgrounds. We became one big family.

The leaders were so patient with us and their knowledge was outstanding.

I came from this wonderful week with knowledge and understanding why this program exists and how important it is to the study of climate change.

AWESOME!

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Sarah Molina|Monday, August8, 2016

“Studying Phenology from the Sea to the Trees”

The Earthwatch expedition to Acadia National Park experience was phenomenal. We assisted lead PI Richard Feldman in a muti-continent study of phenology--the study of cyclical natural events. Richard's focus is on how a warming climate is affecting the normally coinciding cycles of bird migration and fruiting plants. We also participated in research conducted by Earthwatch scientist Hannah Webber, surveying crabs and measuring Ascophyllum nodosum in the intertidal areas of Schoodic Peninsula. As a team of science teachers, we reveled in the opportunity to collect data and participate in scientific research. The time we spent in the field provided insight into not only the research skills we should cultivate in our students, but the stewardship for the natural world we must inspire.

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Rashida Madraswala|Monday, August1, 2016

“Acadia National Park”

Our expedition was amazing. Acadia National Park is beautiful and the opportunity to collect data on the effects of climate change proved to be very interesting. Came away with a greater insight into the natural world and newly forged friendships amongst fellow science teachers. I would highly recommend this expedition to any teacher considering a field experience.

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Hugh Evans|Thursday, October 15, 2015

“A Stimulating Experience”

It was great to join helpful leaders and a group of bright and congenial volunteers. I learned a lot. I wish I could have helped more. Shared memories with friends who say they'll be looking into the possibilities for their future plans.

Hugh Evans Oct. 2015

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Peter Snow|Saturday, October 03, 2015

“Interesting project with lots of diversity”

This project takes place at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. The project team was large (15 people) but they kept us all very busy. The diversity of the research impressed me.

Our first day started - down in the seaweed - searching and capturing green crabs to determine if populations were different from one side of the penninsula to the other. I would recommend knee pads so you can get down close to the seaweed. It soon turned into a contest of who could find the most and the largest green crab in their quadrant.

Another key activity for the week - was to count berries in quadrants near where mist nets were set up. This activity involved some bush whacking and off path hiking. The berry counts were being taken to determine if fruit counts and timing were changing due to climate change. By mist netting in the same area - they were trying to determine the effect on migrating birds.

Other research activities included shore watch for migrating birds, aging seaweed, and snail research. We all learned about Inaturalist and did a mini bio blitz to practice with this tool.

The accomodations were very comfortable and the food was plentiful and very good. I can highly recommend this project to anyone who enjoys hiking and scrambling on rocks near tide pools. I found two hiking poles very handy for steadying myself when off trail or on slippery rocks.

Finally, the PI's and the interns were awesome. The enthusiasm and professionalism of Seth and Hannah was inspiring.

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Jim La Rochelle|Friday, October 02, 2015

“Beautiful Acadia”

My wife and I just returned from our most recent Earthwatch program in Acadia National Park. We were lodged and did our research field work at and near the Schoodic Institute on the mainland part of the park, across from Mt. Desert Island. We enjoyed it thoroughly. Our lodging accommodations were very nice, the food was excellent, our leaders and their assistants were pleasing to work with and informative, and our field work and lab work offered a diversity that kept the experience interesting and fun. The environment on the Schoodic Peninsula was beautiful and less frequented by tourists than the larger part of the park on Mt. Desert Island. I would recommend that anyone wishing to visit the park on Mt. Desert Island before or after the research drive their own car, or rent a car when flying in to the designated airport.

People that enjoy birding should bring their binoculars along because some of the research included watching for migrating birds while we were there, and birds were also being mist-netted and banded in the woods we worked in. Anyone visiting Cadillac Mountain on Mt. Desert Island can also watch eagles and other raptors with park rangers.

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Maureen Loomer|Tuesday, August 18, 2015

“Take me BAAAACCCKKKK!”

What a great experience!

Heather, Seth, Abe, and intern Megan are very professional and work together seamlessly. Even though this expedition was a little bit of a challenge for me (in addition to having poor balance because of an old brain tumor and stroke, I had a stress fracture from running 2 weeks before the trip), I was confident and secure because the mantra I heard over and over was "this is challenge by choice, if you don't feel safe on this terrain just step back!".

If you go; consider the HEAVY hiking boots. My day-hikers were okay but I wished for my Vasques going over those roots in Alder and Panty Lane.

Just a few days and I felt like I accomplished so much. My team mates were all AWE-SOME (yep, I said it) and I would gladly work with any of them again.

Now about the food: I would kill for the recipe for the meatless meatloaf.

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